Narooma author and historian Laurelle received an Australia Day Award from Eurobodalla Shire Council for “Outstanding Community Service” and was therefore also in the running for Eurobodalla Citizen of the Year.

Mayor Lindsay Brown was delighted to announce Lesley Pheeney of Moruya as Eurobodalla’s 2014 Citizen of the Year.

The mayor and Member for Bega Andrew Constance presented Pheeney with the award during the Australia Day ceremony held at the Moruya RSL Hall.

She was recognised for her outstanding service to the Moruya Surf Life Saving Club and the mayor called her an unsung hero in the community who made a difference wherever she volunteered her time. 

“Lesley has been the secretary of the Moruya Surf Life Saving Club since 2002 and has contributed to the club being awarded Club of the Year. She has also been a key member of the Special Nippers program for young people living with physical and intellectual disability,” Brown said.

“In addition to her role as secretary, Lesley has also found time to be the driving force behind the biennual George Bass Surfboat Marathon and to play the organ and piano at St John’s Anglican Church services, funerals and weddings and help out local school choirs.”

Of the Young Citizen of the Year Award recipient, Brown said Ben Potter had been an outstanding leader for the school and wider community, and an ambassador for environmental issues.

“Ben is an active member of Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Youth Committee, a representative on the Narooma High School Student Council and a member of the local scout and GetUp organisations as well as a volunteer at the Narooma Youth Café,” Brown said.

As a member of the Youth Committee, Potter was involved in many projects aimed at engaging youth and promoting youth issues to the wider community, including the development of a reflective wrist band for night pedestrian safety and organising council’s alcohol free music events.

“Ben has also been a champion for our local environment and is an active member of Landcare,” Brown said.

The 2014 recipient of the Jeff Britten Award for Excellence was psychologist and teacher Danny Graham.

“Danny provides counselling support for Batemans Bay High School students and their families during times of great distress and does so in and out of school hours,” Brown said.

“His willing and enthusiastic contribution to the school and the wider Batemans Bay community include running alcohol and drug-free surfing camps and helping young people with special needs. Danny has helped the school consistently achieve a 95 per cent attendance rate.”

The Community Event of the Year Award went to the Moruya Antique Tractor and Heavy Horse Weekend organised by the Moruya Antique Tractor and Machinery Association and the Eurobodalla District Show Society.

The biannual event that displays internal combustion and horse powered machinery from the region’s pioneering years.

The mayor said he believed the Australia Day awards provided a fantastic opportunity for Eurobodalla Shire Council and the local community to recognise residents, young and old, who give their time so tirelessly for others.

“I would like to congratulate the 2014 recipients on receiving their awards tonight,” he said.

“Their hard work, commitment and passion for our community are a vital part of what makes Eurobodalla a great place to live.”

Laurelle nomination details were as follows:

Laurelle uses her skills to catalogue and preserve local historical information in her books on Tilba, Narooma, Montague Island and Bodalla.

Laurelle is secretary and public officer of Narooma School of Arts. She was involved in establishing Narooma Historical Society and has been secretary for many years.

She is an active member of Narooma Rotary and her work includes involvement in the monthly markets and the ‘Pride of Workmanship Awards’. She is also a member of Narooma Chamber of Commerce and council’s Heritage Advisory Committee.

Laurelle is also on the Narooma Oyster Festival committee and has helped to develop history walk brochures and interpretive in Narooma and Bodalla. Laurelle is a tireless community worker and a passionate advocate for arts and heritage. Laurelle has made an enormous contribution to the shire and will provide generations to come with a lasting legacy as a result of her work.

Ben Potter’s nomination notes read as follows:

He has been an outstanding ambassador for Narooma High School and the wider community.

He has been an outstanding ambassador for Narooma High School and the wider community.

Ben is an active member of the Eurobodalla Youth Committee, representative on the Narooma High School Student Council, active member of the scouts and local GetUp organisation and a volunteer at the Narooma Youth Cafe.

As a member of the Youth Council he has been active in many projects aimed at engaging youth and helping to promote their issues to the wider community.

He was a driving force behind the creation of a reflective wrist band for night pedestrians and was involved in organising Amplify Battle of the Bands and Groove in the Shire.

Ben is also passionate about the environment and is an active member of Landcare.

He hosted a climate awareness gathering at Bar Beach, Narooma on the National Day of Climate Action.

He has been involved in the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment Seminar where he has learned valuable skills in teamwork and leadership.

Ben has been awarded the highest award in Cub Scouts and Scouts and has received a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.